Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Gkok Gkok Bugi's Egg (1)
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[That's surprising. To think the Awakener who followed you around picking up scraps from the monsters you killed turned out to be a yokai—and from the Illusion Shock Clan, no less.]
Nameless, who had been silent until now, spoke up in disbelief.
[Of all people, she ends up as one of our store's employees... The future really worries me.]
The night before, Nameless had heard the full story from the Heavenly Demon. But seeing the two of them in person made their rift seem even more severe than the tale suggested.
The Illusion Shock Clan, in particular, were yokai with immense pride. Pairing them with the Heavenly Demon, the pinnacle of arrogance—what could go wrong? Clashes were inevitable.
"Even I don't understand it."
Misinterpreting Nameless's words, the Heavenly Demon smacked his lips.
"I told the shopkeeper as much. Why hire that talentless yokai?"
[That's not true. The Illusion Shock Clan, alongside the Wind Spirit Clan, possess top-tier power among upper yokai. Her exact strength is still unclear, but she could solo a B-Grade Dungeon at minimum.]
"A creature picking up after the monster carcasses I slew?"
[Didn't you see her speed when she followed us here? That terrifying leg strength alone rivals a 3rd Grade Awakener's physical prowess.]
The Heavenly Demon had so far restrained questions about this world—especially dungeons and Awakeners. Partly because they were unrelated to his interior work, but mostly because he had zero interest.
Yet Nameless's praise for the yokai before him, Go Eunjin, sparked a flicker of curiosity.
"You mentioned dungeon and Awakener grades."
[Yes? Grades?]
"Exactly. I don't quite get it."
[Oh, is that so?]
Nameless's voice brimmed with delight, as if it might break into a dance.
[Then allow me to explain.]
Dungeons and Awakeners.
For the Heavenly Demon, who had been utterly indifferent—bordering on cold—to these topics, such a question was a revelation.
[I'll start with Awakener grades. That'll make dungeon grades easier to grasp.]
"Do as you like."
[Awakeners are ranked from 9th Grade to 1st Grade. The grade evaluates physical grade and skill grade combined. Skills have the bigger impact, naturally.]
"Physical grade?"
[Yes. It measures how much your body has evolved, in percentages. Skill grade classifies manifested skills by power, range, rarity—from F to SSS.]
The Heavenly Demon was quick on the uptake, but even he needed a moment.
"So if physical grade is low but skill grade high, how do you determine the final grade?"
[Excellent question! But no Awakener with an S-Grade skill awakens at just the baseline 11% physical evolution. Higher skill grades correlate with higher physical grades.]
"Simple enough."
[Exceptions exist. When physical is low but high-grade skills manifest, they factor in various elements to assign the grade.]
Nameless pondered briefly, then offered a clear example.
[Take Chohong next door—she has an SS-Grade mental manipulation skill, but her low physical grade lands her at 3rd Grade.]
Chohong's skill was classified secret. Yet Nameless, having hacked the Association database, spoke casually.
"Hmm."
The Heavenly Demon's eyes narrowed as he mulled it over.
"Once assigned, does the grade ever change?"
[Generally, yes.]
"There was that ponytail guy tormented by dullahans until he got the berserker armor skill, and the one who gained noise pollution from Metal K."
[Those are exceptions. Awakeners sometimes re-awaken or extreme-awaken. Like Yoon Jihwan, the 1st Grade Awakener and author of that hit show [I'm Still Alive Today].]
"Re-awakening and extreme-awakening. Sounds similar to me."
[No. Re-awakening grants a new skill you didn't have. Extreme-awakening massively boosts existing skills or physical grade.]
A glint of interest lit the Heavenly Demon's eyes.
From a martial artist's view: re-awakening was learning new martial arts. Extreme-awakening advanced one's existing arts.
"If that's possible, why doesn't everyone raise their grade?"
[They don't know how.]
Embarrassment tinged Nameless's voice.
[No one's figured out why or how re-awakenings or extreme-awakenings happen. Some say it's mental enlightenment, others extreme physical training.]
The Heavenly Demon wore an odd expression. It dawned on him: this world's Awakeners and murim martial artists thought alike in the end.
"Humans are all the same. Murim folk ranked the Ten Great Swordmasters and Hundred Masters too."
[Pardon?]
"When martial arts hit a plateau, progress halts. Mortals call it a 'limit' and quit. They brand themselves like livestock sorted by bone structure."
Gazing at the distant sky blending with the shield's glow, the Heavenly Demon continued.
"Ridiculous. I saw that 'block' not as a barrier, but a springboard for leaping higher. A blockade means there's something to step on and surpass."
[Ah...]
Nameless savored the words, then exclaimed in awe. Most speak of 'breaking' or 'surpassing' limits.
But the Heavenly Demon viewed limits as infinite stepping stones.
That mindset was his secret to supreme heights.
[Indeed. You've taught me greatly, Heavenly Demon.]
Impressed, Nameless fell silent a while before resuming.
[Do you grasp Awakener grades now?]
"Yes."
[Then, as thanks for your wisdom, I'll detail monster threat levels in depth. That'll clarify dungeon grades too.]
Nameless chattered excitedly again.
[First, monster threat level—or 'hazard rating.']
"Go on."
[Hazard rating estimates damage to unarmed civilians. Hazard 5,000 means it could kill 5,000 normals.]
"Hmm."
[It's not absolute, of course. Just the Association's analysis of accumulated data. Officially 'estimated hazard.' Vague, but Awakeners get it. Now, back to dungeon grades...]
"Enough."
The Heavenly Demon waved dismissively, bored.
"I get the gist now."
[But I haven't explained dungeons yet.]
"Obvious, isn't it? Dungeon grades are a 'vague' mashup of monster hazards and conditions."
Nameless chuckled sheepishly.
[You're quick, Heavenly Demon. Hehe.]
Truth be told, Nameless planned exhaustive details: grades per dungeon, monster handling by physical/skill grades, Awakener power comparisons, and more.
But the Heavenly Demon's face showed lost interest; he wouldn't listen.
[That concludes the explanation. Any more questions?]
Pondering, the Heavenly Demon eyed the Star Candy Dungeon entrance.
"Your analysis puts Gray-eyes at 3rd Grade Awakener level, then."
Ultimately, his curiosity was her power.
"So, can she fetch an intact egg?"
Nameless hesitated, then shook its head.
[No. Go Eunjin will fail. Gkok Gkok Bugi has unique abilities and traits.]
"I see."
[Even you would fail, Heavenly Demon.]
"What?"
[I know you surpass 1st Grade Awakeners. But dungeons have variables. And no matter your power, you can't solo an intact Gkok Gkok Bugi egg.]
"Nonsense."
[Heavenly Demon, just hear me out...]
"Quiet."
Cutting Nameless off, the Heavenly Demon smirked coldly at the entrance.
"Watch. After that yokai fails miserably, I'll bring back an intact egg to rub it in."
* * *
Go Eunjin failed.
As expected, she emerged dusting off, clutching a shattered egg.
"Damn. Even with the Divine Soldier Knight approaching... didn't think it'd notice."
Divine Soldier Knight: The Illusion Shock Clan's technique blending yokai energy and mental force to create a potent entity—formless as mist, yet wielding physical might.
But Gkok Gkok Bugi sensed the intangible knight instantly and smashed the egg.
Wallowing in defeat, Go Eunjin felt the Heavenly Demon's gaze and sprang up, fists clenched.
"A-alright. One more try."
Invaders gone, the egg respawns quickly anyway.
"Kuhahaha!"
The Heavenly Demon's mocking laugh boomed.
"Daring to bet against me with that skill? Pathetic yokai."
"You think it's easy? Try it yourself."
"Fine."
Exuding Blood Flame Radiance, the Heavenly Demon strode in coldly.
"Watch closely, Gray-eyes. I'll bring back an intact Gkok Gkok Bugi egg."
Naturally, the Heavenly Demon failed too.
Even with the world's finest stealth—Four Emperors Stealth Shadow Form, merging body with nature sans a trace—Gkok Gkok Bugi detected him eerily and raised the egg.
Out of options, he unleashed full Heavenly Demon Great Ability.
Then deployed Night Moon Extreme Speed—the demonic pinnacle surpassing moonlight—at max, but the egg shattered by a hair.
"Too far."
Gkok Gkok Bugi perched on a plate-like structure.
450 meters from dungeon core entrance to structure.
From detection to egg-smash: 2-3 seconds.
To steal an intact egg: halt time, or hit 450 m/s—1,600 km/h.
"If only my qi were intact..."
Emerging, the Heavenly Demon stared at the wreckage in his hands, crestfallen.
Barely snatched mid-fall, yet half-crushed.
[Impressive still, Heavenly Demon.]
Before discarding, he'd snatched it at full speed— just shy of SS-Grade Sound Barrier Break.
[A 1st Grade team would need to mobilize fully for that state.]
True. Though no 1st Graders would chase worthless eggs en masse.
"That's an intact Gkok Gkok Bugi egg?"
Go Eunjin sidled up, grinning.
"You mocked mine, but look at yours."
"Mine held its shape."
"What'd you brag earlier? Perfect condition? Is that perfect?"
"...Fine."
Rising, he headed back. But maxing Heavenly Demon Great Ability had left his legs twitching faintly.
[Heavenly Demon.]
"Quiet."
[You can't.]
Nameless blocked him, scanning his state.
[You went all-out just now. You won't perform properly.]
"Hmph. That was mere thirty percent."
Actually drained to death's door, yet he bluffed.
"Now I'll use fifty percent."
[Heavenly Demon.]
"Enough. Stay out of it."
Nameless turned grave.
[You promised Manager Jang a perfect egg. Blind challenges will fail no matter days spent.]
The Heavenly Demon's brow twitched faintly.
Failure. A word erased from his dictionary—unthinkable.
[But I have a foolproof strategy. Guaranteed win.]
Nameless never bluffed.
The Heavenly Demon hummed lowly.
"Speak."
Instead, Nameless eyed distant Go Eunjin.
"What? Why stare like that?"
Nameless's intent was clear: fail alone, or team with the insolent yokai.
For the first time since entering murim, the Heavenly Demon hesitated.
* * *
Inside B-Grade Star Candy Dungeon.
The cavern, carved from massive stone, brimmed with star candy motifs in relief and intaglio, exuding eerie vibes.
"Hmm."
The Heavenly Demon's face was stiff as he advanced. Beside him trailed Go Eunjin, lugging an ice box and donning helmet nanobots.
Ultimately, he'd chosen bittersweet half-victory over humiliating failure.
[Thanks to you clearing monsters earlier, it's nice and comfy.]
Even Nameless's comfort earned only a snort.
Eyeying the empty passage, Nameless spoke again.
[A bit further to the core.]
Perched on the Heavenly Demon's shoulder, it turned to Go Eunjin.
[As I said: no entering core till I say. Key is me measuring Gkok Gkok Bugi's detection.]
Nameless had shared a clever plan. Success hinged on re-analyzing Gkok Gkok Bugi's reaction speed and senses.
"Got it."
Go Eunjin nodded, blinking at Nameless.
"But you—what are you exactly?"
[Pardon?]
"A combat analyzer bot devising tactics? And that impossible vocabulary?"
[Heh heh heh. I'm no mere nanobot.]
Sprouting thin arms to cross them, Nameless smirked demonically, mimicking the Heavenly Demon.
[I am Nameless.]
-Woooong.
Then, vibrations rumbled. From the opposite passage, dark shadows emerged slowly. Glowing yellow eyes pierced the dark—monsters for sure.
[Oh? Monsters respawning already? Wait, something's off.]
*Clank.*
Activating sensors, Nameless scanned the shadows.
Up close: humanoid monsters in glossy insect chitin armor.
-Grurrr...
Low growls filled the broad passage. At least a hundred by rough count.
Spotting their clustered yellow eyes, Nameless shouted.
[Cluster-type Hidden Monster: Black Soldiers!]